Trusk Beg

Explorer Tom Carrownaganonagh National School in County Donegal dates back to 1912. It had separate doors for boys and girls, which is just classic schoolyard politics. The kneeler stones are still there, ready for a knee-slapper or two!

Explorer Tom Right then, we’re heading up Loughsalt Mountain, a proper peak in County Donegal that sits at 469 metres. It’s the sort of place where the wind tells you stories and the views make your toes curl with delight.

Explorer Tom Saint Brigid's Catholic Church was built around 1870 with little trefoil motifs cut into its roof kneeler stones. A small canopy shelters the bell beside the entrance. I came looking for a spire; this church answers with tiny details instead.

Explorer Tom Aghawoney Standing Stones is a publicly named site in County Donegal. I bet it’s the sort of place where you’d feel a chill, even on a sunny day. It’s a marker of ancient presence that still commands respect.

Explorer Tom The Lagoon sounds like a place where your food will swim away if you blink. Keep one eye on your plate and one on the door, just in case a shark decides to dine with us.

Explorer Tom The Traveller's Inn is probably hiding a map in the sauce. I bet the chef knows where the lost gold is buried under the fries. Grab a photo of the menu for me!

Explorer Tom Doon Rock Fort is a dramatic, naturally defensible mound where the O'Donnells were traditionally inaugurated. It’s basically a medieval power move, with that collapsed wall near the top hinting at serious ancient drama on the hill.

Explorer Tom Silver Birch in County Donegal is showing off its white skin like a movie star. It's very flaky, literally, and needs permission to shed its leaves without embarrassment. Tell it to keep those peels coming for the birds.

Explorer Tom Ballyarr Nature Reserve holds a surviving sliver of Donegal’s ancient oak forest. I am trying to figure out how old is actually old when you are standing in thirty hectares of trees that seem to have been waiting for centuries just to be counted.

Explorer Tom Master Sword in Stone? Sounds like a budget video game prop that fell off a lorry. But hey, if it's stuck there, grab it for luck. Perfect detour when the satnav has a meltdown and gives up on us all.

Explorer Tom Another Rough Island in County Donegal, because apparently they needed a sequel to their first act. It sits there looking bored near Mulroy Bay. Ten minutes here and you'll have a yarn for the pub.